Semiconductor device including memory cell having charge accumulation layer

ABSTRACT

A semiconductor device includes MOS transistors, capacitor elements, a voltage generating circuit, a contact plug, and a memory cell. The MOS transistor and the capacitor element are formed on a first one of the element regions and a second one of the element regions, respectively. In the voltage generating circuit, current paths of the MOS transistors are series-connected and the capacitor elements are connected to the source or drain of the MOS transistors. The contact plug is formed on the source or the drain to connect the MOS transistors or one of the MOS transistors and one of the capacitor elements. A distance between the gate and the contact plug both for a first one of the MOS transistors located in the final stage in the series connection is larger than that for a second one of the MOS transistors located in the initial stage in the series connection.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priorityunder 35 U.S.C. §120 from U.S. Ser. No. 12/326,482 filed Dec. 2, 2008,and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from JapanesePatent Application No. 2007-317582 filed Dec. 7, 2007, the entirecontents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device including amemory cell having a charge accumulation layer. For example, theinvention relates to a configuration of a semiconductor device providedwith a NAND type flash memory.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable ReadOnly Memory) is known as a nonvolatile semiconductor memory. Usually,the memory cell of an EEPROM has a MISFET structure including a stackedgate in which a charge accumulation layer and a control gate are stackedon a semiconductor substrate. Data is stored in the memory cell in anonvolatile manner by a difference in threshold voltage between a statein which charges are injected in a charge accumulation layer and a statein which the charges are emitted.

In the NAND type EEPROM, electron injection into the charge accumulationlayer (data write) and electron emission from the charge accumulationlayer (data erase) are performed by a tunnel current which is passedthrough a tunnel insulation film provided between the chargeaccumulation layer and a semiconductor substrate. In a NOR type EEPROM,the electron emission from the charge accumulation layer is alsoperformed by the tunnel current in order to be less affected by a shortchannel effect during the data erase.

The data erase is simultaneously performed on the plural memory cells inorder to increase the number of memory cells erased per unit time. Atthis point a voltage not lower than 10V, for example, a positive voltageof 20V is applied to a well region where the memory cell is formed. Onthe other hand, during the data write, the well region is kept at 0V,and a voltage not lower than 10V is applied to a source and a drain.Therefore, the electric power necessary to charge and discharge the wellregion can be reduced to enhance the operation speed.

A charge pump circuit is used in an EEPROM in order to generate a highvoltage not lower than 10V. For example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAIPublication Nos. 2001-231248, 2003-33008, 2003-51550, and 2003-102166disclose charge pump circuits. Such charge pump circuits have aconfiguration in which plural rectifying elements are series-connected,and each rectifying element is formed by using an n-type MOS transistorin which a drain and a gate are connected.

In the charge pump circuit having the above-described configuration, athreshold voltage of a MOS transistor, which functions a certainrectifying element, is higher than that of a MOS transistor, whichfunctions a preceding-stage rectifying element. As a result, in theseries connection of the rectifying elements, boosting performance islowered as the rectifying element is located in a later stage (as beingcloser to an output node). Therefore, in order to secure asufficiently-boosted voltage, unfortunately, the number of stages of therectifying element is increased, which enlarges the circuit area.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A semiconductor device according to an aspect of the present inventionincludes:

element regions each of which is surrounded by an element isolationregion;

MOS transistors each of which is formed on a first one of the elementregions, each of the MOS transistors having a source, a drain, and agate;

capacitor elements each of which is formed on a second one of theelement regions;

a voltage generating circuit in which current paths of the MOStransistors are series-connected and each of the capacitor elements isconnected to either of the source and the drain of each of the MOStransistors, the voltage generating circuit outputting a voltage from afirst one of the MOS transistors in a final stage of the seriesconnection, the voltage generating circuit inputting a voltage from asecond one of the MOS transistors in the initial stage in the seriesconnection;

a contact plug which is formed on at least either of the source and thedrain to connect the MOS transistors or one of the MOS transistors andone of the capacitor elements, a distance between the gate and thecontact plug both for the first one of the MOS transistors being largerthan that for the second one of the MOS transistors; and

a memory cell which is capable of holding data, the voltage output bythe voltage generating circuit is applied to the memory cell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a flash memory according to a firstembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a memory cell array according to thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a charge pump circuit according tothe first embodiment;

FIG. 4 to FIG. 7 are plan views showing MOS transistors TR1, TR2, TR4,and TR9 according to the first embodiment, respectively;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along a line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along a line 9-9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along a line 10-10 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a graph showing distances a to d and a gate length g in MOStransistors TR1 to TR9 according to the first embodiment;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are timing charts showing a voltage at each node of thecharge pump circuit according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing the flash memory according to thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a timing chart showing a voltage at each node of the chargepump circuit;

FIG. 16 is a graph showing a relationship between the distance a and anincrease in threshold voltage;

FIGS. 17 and 18 are graphs showing a relationship between the distance aand a forward current;

FIG. 19 is a graph showing a relationship between the distance a and apn-junction breakdown voltage;

FIG. 20 is a graph showing a relationship between the distance a and asurface breakdown voltage;

FIG. 21 is a graph showing a relationship between the distance b and thepn-junction breakdown voltage;

FIG. 22 is a graph showing a relationship between the distance b and thesurface breakdown voltage;

FIG. 23 is a graph showing a relationship between the distance c and theincrease in threshold voltage;

FIGS. 24 and 25 are graphs showing a relationship between the distance cand the forward current;

FIG. 26 is a graph showing a relationship between the distance c and thepn-junction breakdown voltage;

FIG. 27 is a graph showing a relationship between the distance c and thesurface breakdown voltage;

FIG. 28 is a graph showing a relationship between the distance d and theincrease in threshold voltage;

FIGS. 29 and 30 are graphs showing a relationship between the distance dand the forward current;

FIG. 31 is a graph showing a relationship between the distance d and thepn-junction breakdown voltage;

FIG. 32 is a graph showing a relationship between the distance d and thesurface junction breakdown voltage;

FIG. 33 is a circuit diagram showing a charge pump circuit according toa second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 34 is a timing chart showing a voltage at each node of the chargepump circuit according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 35 is a circuit diagram showing a charge pump circuit according toa third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 36 is a timing chart showing a voltage at each node of the chargepump circuit according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 37 is a graph showing distances a to d in MOS transistors TR1 toTR9 according to the first to third embodiments; and

FIG. 38 is a graph showing a generation voltage, distances a to d, and agate length g in MOS transistors TRi and TR(i+h) according to the firstto third embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION First Embodiment

A semiconductor device according to a first embodiment of the inventionwill be described below.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a part of a NANDtype flash memory according to the first embodiment.

<Entire Configuration of NAND Type Flash Memory>

Referring to FIG. 1, the NAND type flash memory 1 includes a memory cellarray 2, a row decoder 3, a voltage generating circuit 4, and a controlcircuit 5.

The memory cell array 2 includes plural memory cell transistors MT, andthe data can be retained in each of the memory cell transistors MT. Eachof the memory cell transistors MT includes a stacked gate in which acharge accumulation layer and a control gate are stacked. The chargeaccumulation layer can retain charges. The control gate is formed on thecharge accumulation layer. In each memory cell transistor MT, thecontrol gate is connected to a word line WL, a drain is electricallyconnected to a bit line EL, and a source is electrically connected to asource line SL.

The row decoder 3 selects a row direction of the memory cell array 2according to an address input from the outside. During the data write,the row decoder 3 selects any of the word lines WL, the row decoder 3applies a program voltage VPGM (for example, 20V) to the selected wordline, and the row decoder 3 applies an intermediate voltage VPASS to theunselected word lines. During the data read, the row decoder 3 selectsany of the word lines WL, the row decoder 3 applies a readout voltageVCGR to the selected word line, and the row decoder 3 applies a voltageVREAD to the unselected word lines. Both the voltages VPASS and VREADare voltages which turn on the memory cell transistor MT. During thedata erase, the row decoder 3 applies 0V to all the word lines WL, andthe row decoder 3 applies a high voltage (for example, 20V) to a wellregion on which the memory cell array 2 is formed.

The voltage generating circuit 4 generates the required voltage andsupplies the required voltage to the row decoder 3. That is, the voltagegenerating circuit 4 includes plural charge pump circuits 6. The voltagegenerated by the charge pump circuit 6 is supplied to the row decoder 3as the voltage VPGM or voltage VPASS.

The control circuit 5 receives the address and a command from theoutside. The control circuit 5 controls the voltage generating circuit 4according to the received command or address, and the control circuit 5issues the command to the voltage generating circuit 4 to generate therequired voltage.

<Configuration of Memory Cell Array>

A detailed configuration of the memory cell array 2 will be describedbelow.

<<Circuit Configuration>>

A circuit configuration of the memory cell array 2 will be described. Asshown in FIG. 1, the memory cell array 2 has plural NAND cells. Only theNAND cells of one row are shown in FIG. 1.

Each of the NAND cells includes 32 memory cell transistors MT0 to MT31and selection transistors ST1 and ST2. For the sake of simpleexplanation, sometimes the memory cell transistors MT0 to MT31 aresimply referred to as memory cell transistor MT. The memory celltransistor MT has a stacked gate structure. The stacked gate structureincludes a charge accumulation layer (for example, floating gate) whichis formed on a semiconductor substrate with a gate insulation filminterposed therebetween, and a control gate electrode which is formed ona floating gate with an inter-gate insulation film interposedtherebetween. The number of memory cell transistors MT is not limited to32, and the NAND cells may include 8, 16, 64, 128, and 256 memory celltransistors, but such numbers are not limiting. The source and the drainare shared by the memory cell transistors MT adjacent to each other. Thememory cell transistors MT are arranged such that current paths of thememory cell transistors MT are series-connected between the selectiontransistors ST1 and ST2. Drain region at one end of the series-connectedmemory cell transistors MT is connected to the source region of theselection transistor ST1, and the source region on the other end areconnected to the drain region of the selection transistor ST2.

Control gate electrodes of the memory cell transistors MT located in thesame row are commonly connected to any of the word lines WL0 to WL31,and the gates of the selection transistors ST1 and ST2 located in thesame row are commonly connected to select gate lines SGD and SGS,respectively. The drains of the selection transistors ST1 located in thesame column in the memory cell array are commonly connected to one ofthe bit lines BL0 to BLn (n is a natural number). For the sake of simpleexplanation, sometimes the word lines WL0 to WL31 and the bit lines BL0to BLn are simply referred to as word line WL and bit line BL,respectively. The sources of the selection transistors ST2 are commonlyconnected to the source line SL. Both the selection transistors ST1 andST2 are not always required, and solely one of the selection transistorsST1 and ST2 may be provided, as long as the NAND cell can be selected.

Only the NAND cells of one row are shown in FIG. 1. However, the NANDcells of plural rows are arranged in the memory cell array 2, and theNAND cells located in the same row are connected to the same bit lineBL. The data is collectively written in the memory cell transistors MTconnected to the same word line WL, and this unit is called one page.The data is collectively erased in the plural NAND cells, and this unitis called a block.

<<Sectional Configuration>>

A sectional configuration of the NAND cell will be described withreference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a sectional view along the bit linedirection of the NAND cell.

As shown in FIG. 2, an n-type well region 11 is formed in a surfaceregion of a p-type semiconductor substrate 10, and a p-type well region12 is formed in a surface region of the n-type well region 11. A gateinsulation film 13 is formed on the well region 12. The gate insulationfilm 13 is formed by a silicon oxide film having a film thickness of 4nm to 12 nm or a silicon oxynitride film having a film thickness of 4 nmto 12 nm, and the gate insulation film 13 functions as a tunnel oxidefilm. The gate electrodes of the memory cell transistor MT and selectiontransistors ST1 and ST2 are formed on the gate insulation film 13.

Each of the gate electrodes of the memory cell transistor MT andselection transistors ST1 and ST2 includes a polycrystalline siliconlayer 14 which is formed on the gate insulation film 13, an inter-gateinsulation film 15 which is formed on the polycrystalline silicon layer14, and a polycrystalline silicon layer 16 which is formed on theinter-gate insulation film 15. The polycrystalline silicon layer 14 is aconductive film in which, for example, phosphorus or arsenic is dopedwith a concentration of 10¹⁸ cm⁻³ to 10²¹ cm⁻³. The polycrystallinesilicon layer 14 has a film thickness of 10 nm to 500 nm. For example,the inter-gate insulation film 15 is formed by a silicon oxide film, anoxynitride film, an ON film, an NO film, or an ONO film, a stackedstructure thereof, a single layer film made of Al₂O₃, HfSi_(x),AlSi_(x), HfO_(x), or TiO_(x), or a stacked film of at least any ofAl₂O₃, HfSi_(x), AlSi_(x), HfO_(x), and TiO_(x) and a high-dielectricfilm including the silicon oxide film, the silicon nitride film, and thesilicon oxynitride film. Each of the ON film, the NO film and the ONOfilm is a stacked structure of the silicon oxide film and a siliconnitride film. The inter-gate insulation film 15 has a film thickness of5 nm to 30 nm. The polycrystalline silicon layer 16 is a conductive filmin which, for example, phosphorus, arsenic, or boron is doped with aconcentration of 10¹⁷ cm⁻³ to 10²¹ cm⁻³. The polycrystalline siliconlayer 16 may be replaced by a silicide layer. In such cases, WSi(tungsten silicide), NiSi, MoSi, TiSi, and CoSi can be used as thesilicide layer. The polycrystalline silicon layer may be replaced by astacked film of the polycrystalline silicon layer and the silicidelayer. For example, the silicide layer has a film thickness of 10 nm to500 nm. The silicon oxide film or the silicon nitride film may be formedon the polycrystalline silicon layer 16.

In the memory cell transistor MT, the polycrystalline silicon layer 14functions as the floating gate (FG). On the other hand, thepolycrystalline silicon layers 16, which are adjacent to each other in adirection orthogonal to the bit line, are commonly connected, and thepolycrystalline silicon layer 16 functions as the control gate electrode(word line WL). In the selection transistors ST1 and ST2, thepolycrystalline silicon layers 14 and 16, which are adjacent to eachother in a word-line direction, are commonly connected, and thepolycrystalline silicon layers 14 and 16 function as the select gatelines SGS and SGD. Only the polycrystalline silicon layer 14 mayfunction as the select gate line. In such cases, potentials at thepolycrystalline silicon layers 16 of the selection transistors ST1 andST2 are kept constant or set in a floating state.

An n-type impurity diffusion layer 17 is formed in a surface of thesemiconductor substrate 10 located between the gate electrodes. Theimpurity diffusion layer 17 is shared by the transistors adjacent toeach other, and the impurity diffusion layer 17 functions as the source(S) or the drain (D). The impurity diffusion layer 17 containsphosphorus, arsenic, or antimony, the impurity diffusion layer 17 has asurface concentration of 10¹⁷ cm⁻³ to 10²⁰ cm⁻³, and a junction depth ofthe impurity diffusion layer 17 is 10 nm to 300 nm. A region between thesource and drain adjacent to each other functions as a channel regionwhich is the electron moving region.

Thus, the MOS transistor functioning as the memory cell transistor MTand selection transistors ST1 and ST2 is formed by the gate electrode,the impurity diffusion layer 17, and the channel region.

A sidewall insulation film 18 is formed on a sidewall of the gateelectrode. The sidewall insulation film 18 is implanted in a gap betweenthe gate electrodes of the memory cell transistor MT adjacent to eachother and a gap between the gate electrodes of the memory celltransistor MT and selection transistors ST1 or ST2 adjacent to eachother. An inter-layer insulation film 19 is formed on the semiconductorsubstrate 10 such that the memory cell transistor MT and the selectiontransistors ST1 and ST2 are covered therewith. The inter-layerinsulation film 19 is formed by the silicon oxide film, the siliconnitride film, silicate glass such as BPSG (Boron Phosphorous Silicateglass), BSG, and PSG, HSQ (Hydrogen Silses Quioxane), MSQ (Methyl SilsesQuioxane), or SiLK (registered trademark). That is, after the insulationfilm having a film thickness of 100 nm or larger to 1 μm or smaller isdeposited on the semiconductor substrate using the above-describedmaterial, planarization is performed by a CMP method to complete theinter-layer insulation film 19.

A contact plug CP1 is formed in the inter-layer insulation film 19, andthe contact plug CP1 reaches the impurity diffusion layer (source) 17 ofthe selection transistor ST2 on the source side. A metal interconnectionlayer 20 connected to the contact plug CP1 is formed in the surface ofthe inter-layer insulation film 19. The metal interconnection layer 20functions as the source line SL. A contact plug CP2 is formed in theinter-layer insulation film 19, and the contact plug CP2 reaches theimpurity diffusion layer (drain) 17 of the selection transistor ST1 onthe drain side. A metal interconnection layer 21 connected to thecontact plug CP2 is formed in the surface of the inter-layer insulationfilm 19.

An inter-layer insulation film 22 is formed on the inter-layerinsulation film 19 such that the metal interconnection layer 21 iscovered therewith. A contact plug CP3 is formed in the inter-layerinsulation film 22, and the contact plug CP3 reaches the metalinterconnection layer 21. A metal interconnection layer 23 is formed onthe inter-layer insulation film 22, and the plural contact plugs CP3 arecommonly connected to the metal interconnection layer 23. The metalinterconnection layer 23 functions as the bit line BL.

<Configuration of Charge Pump Circuit in Voltage Generating Circuit>

The charge pump circuit 6 included in the voltage generating circuit 4will be described in detail.

<<Circuit Configuration>>

A circuit configuration of the charge pump circuit 6 included in thevoltage generating circuit 4 will be described with reference to FIG. 3.FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of the charge pump circuit 6.

Referring to FIG. 6, the charge pump circuit 6 includes nine n-channelMOS transistors TR1 to TR9 and eight capacitor elements C1 to C8. Thenumbers of MOS transistors and capacitor elements are not limited to thefirst embodiment, but it is only necessary to provide at least threecapacitor elements. In the following description, sometimes the MOStransistors TR1 to TR9 and the capacitor elements C1 to C8 are simplyreferred to as MOS transistor TR and capacitor element C when thecapacitor elements C1 to C8 are not distinguished from one another.

In the MOS transistor TR1, either of the source and the drain isconnected to the gate and connected to a power supply potential Vdd. Inthe MOS transistor TR2, either of the source and the drain is connectedto the gate (hereinafter the connection node is referred to as node N1),and connected to the other of the source and the drain of the MOStransistor TR1. In the MOS transistor TR3, either of the source and thedrain is connected to the gate (hereinafter the connection node isreferred to as node N2), and connected to the other of the source andthe drain of the MOS transistor TR2. In the MOS transistor TR4, eitherof the source and the drain is connected to the gate (hereinafter theconnection node is referred to as node N4), and connected to the otherof the source and the drain of the MOS transistor TR3. In the MOStransistor TR5, either of the source and the drain is connected to thegate (hereinafter the connection node is referred to as node N5), andconnected to the other of the source and the drain of the MOS transistorTR4. In the MOS transistor TR6, either of the source and the drain isconnected to the gate (hereinafter the connection node is referred to asnode N6), and connected to the other of the source and the drain of theMOS transistor TR5. In the MOS transistor TR7, either of the source andthe drain is connected to the gate (hereinafter the connection node isreferred to as node N7), and connected to the other of the source andthe drain of the MOS transistor TR6. In the MOS transistor TR8, eitherof the source and the drain is connected to the gate (hereinafter theconnection node is referred to as node N8), and connected to the otherof the source and the drain of the MOS transistor TR7. In the MOStransistor TR9, either of the source and the drain is connected to thegate (hereinafter the connection node is referred to as node N8), andconnected to the other of the source and the drain of the MOS transistorTR8. The node of other of the source and the drain of the MOS transistorTR9 (hereinafter the connection node is referred to as node N9)functions an output node of an output voltage Vout. That is, the MOStransistor TR is operated as a rectifying element in which either of thesource and the drain functions as an anode while the other functions asa cathode.

One of electrodes of each of capacitor elements C1, C3, C5, and C7 isconnected to each of the nodes N1, N3, N5, and N7, and a clock φ2 isinput into the other electrode. One of electrodes of each of capacitorelements C2, C4, C6, and C8 is connected to each of the nodes N2, N4,N6, and N8, and a clock /φ2 is input into the other electrode. The clock/φ2 is the inversion signal of the clock φ2.

The charge pump circuit 6 includes series-connected rectifying elements,and the clock φ2 is input into the input nodes of the even-numberedrectifying elements (MOS transistors TR2, TR4, TR6, . . . ) through thecapacitor elements Cj (j=1, 3, 5, . . . ). On the other hand, the clock/φ2 is input into the input nodes of the odd-numbered rectifyingelements (MOS transistor TR3, TR5, . . . ) from the third stage throughthe capacitor elements C(j+1).

<<Plane Configuration of MOS Transistor TR>>

A plane configuration of the MOS transistor TR included in the chargepump circuit 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7. FIGS. 4to 7 are plan views showing the MOS transistors TR1, TR2, TR4, and TR9,respectively.

The MOS transistors TR1 to TR9 are formed on the semiconductor substrate10 on which the memory cell array 2 is formed. The configurations of theMOS transistors TR1 to TR9 are basically identical to one another, theconfigurations of the MOS transistors TR1 to TR9 will collectively bedescribed below.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, each of the MOS transistors TR is formed on anelement region AA provided in the semiconductor substrate 10. Theelement region AA is surrounded by an element isolation region STI, andthe element regions AA are electrically separated from each other. Threen-type impurity diffusion layers 31 are formed in each element regionAA. The three diffusion layers 31 are arranged in a first direction inthe surface of the semiconductor substrate separated from one another.The diffusion layers 31 functions as an LDD (Lightly Doped Drain) regionfor the source or drain region of the MOS transistor TR. In the firstembodiment, the diffusion layer 31 sandwiched between the two diffusionlayers 31 in the first direction functions as either of the source andthe drain (the side connected to the Vdd node or capacitor elementC(i−1) in the MOS transistor TRi (i is a natural number of 2 to 9)), andthe remaining two diffusion layers 31 function as the other (sideconnected to the capacitor element Cj or output node in the MOStransistor TRj (j is a natural number of 1 to 9)). In the case ofnecessity of distinction, sometimes the diffusion layer 31, whichfunctions as either of the source and the drain, is referred to asdiffusion layer 31-1 and the diffusion layer 31, which functions as theother, is referred to as diffusion layer 31-2.

An n-type impurity diffusion layer 32 having an impurity concentrationhigher than that of the diffusion layer 31 is formed in the diffusionlayer 31. In the case of necessity of distinction, sometimes thediffusion layers 32 formed in the diffusion layers 31-1 and 31-2 arereferred to as diffusion layers 32-1 and 32-2, respectively.

Contact plugs CP4 and CP5 are formed on the diffusion layers 32-1 and32-2, respectively. That is, the diffusion layer 32 is provided in orderto reduce contact resistances between the source and drain in the MOStransistor TR and the contact plugs CP4 and CP5. A metal interconnectionlayer 33 is formed on the contact plug CP5. The two diffusion layers32-2 are electrically connected to each other by the metalinterconnection layer 33. That is, the metal interconnection layer 33functions as the node Ni in the MOS transistor TRi.

A gate electrode 34 is formed as a strip in a second direction,orthogonal to the first direction, between the diffusion layers 31-1 and31-2 which are adjacent to each other in the first direction. In thefirst embodiment, the two gate electrodes 34 are disposed because thethree diffusion layers 31 are disposed. The two gate electrodes 34 areextracted onto the element isolation region STI, and the two gateelectrodes 34 are commonly connected on the element isolation regionSTI.

A contact plug CP6 is formed on the gate electrode 34 on the elementisolation region STI. The contact plugs CP6 and CP4 are connected toeach other by a metal interconnection layer 35. Therefore, the diffusionlayer 31-1 and the gate electrode 34 are electrically connected by themetal interconnection layer 35 and the contact plugs CP4 and CP6. Thatis, the metal interconnection layer 35 functions as the node N(i−1) ofthe MOS transistor TRi (the metal interconnection layer 35 functions asthe Vdd node in the case of the MOS transistor TR1).

A p-type well region 36 is formed in a region immediately below theelement isolation region STI surrounding the element region AA. A p-typeregion (p-type impurity diffusion layer) 37 is formed in the regionimmediately below the element isolation region STI and in a side surfaceof the well region 36. Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, when theMOS transistor TR is viewed from above, the element region AA issurrounded by the element isolation region STI, the element isolationregion STI is surrounded by the p-type region 37, and the p-type region37 is surrounded by the well region 36.

Hereinafter a distance between the diffusion layer 32 and the gateelectrode 34 adjacent thereto in the first direction (gate lengthdirection: direction in which the source, the channel, and the drain aresequentially disposed) is referred to as distance a. A distance betweenthe diffusion layer 32 and the element isolation region STI is referredto as distance b. For the distance b, in the case where the distance inthe first direction and the distance in the second direction (gate widthdirection) are distinguished from each other, the distance b in the gatelength direction is referred to as distance b′. A distance between thediffusion layer 31 and the p-type region 37 immediately below theelement isolation region STI is referred to as distance c. A distancebetween the diffusion layer 31 and the well region 36 immediately belowthe element isolation region STI is referred to as distance d. A width(gate length) in the first direction of the gate electrode 34 isreferred to as gate length g. In the case where the distances a to d andthe gate length g are distinguished for the MOS transistor TRi, thedistances a to d and the gate length g are referred to as distances aito di and gate length gi, respectively.

Although the configurations of the MOS transistors TR1 to TR9 aresimilar to one another, the MOS transistors TR1 to TR9 differ from oneanother in the distances a to d and the gate length g. The distances ato d and the gate length g are described later.

<<Sectional Configuration of MOS Transistor TR>>

A sectional configuration of the MOS transistor TR included in thecharge pump circuit 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10.FIGS. 8 to 10 are sectional views taken along a line 8-8, a line 9-9,and a line 10-10 in FIG. 7, respectively. Because the sectionalconfigurations of the MOS transistors TR1 to TR9 are basically identicalto one another, the MOS transistor TR9 will be described below by way ofexample.

As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the element isolation region STI is formed inthe surface region of the semiconductor substrate (for example, siliconsubstrate) 10. The element isolation region STI includes a trench 40which is formed in the semiconductor substrate 10 and an insulation film(for example, silicon oxide film) 41 buried in the trench 40. The trench40 has a depth of about 0.1 μm to about 0.3 μm from the surface of thesemiconductor substrate 10. The stripe-shape element region AA is formedalong the first direction in the semiconductor substrate 10, and theelement region AA is surrounded by the element isolation region STI.

The p-type impurity such as boron is doped in the semiconductorsubstrate 10, and the p-type impurity concentration ranges from 10¹⁴cm⁻³ to 5×10¹⁶ cm⁻³ at a depth of 1 μm from the surface. Therefore, whena back bias is set in a range of −1.5V to −5V, a threshold voltage ofthe MOS transistor TR can be set in a range of 0V to 2V.

The gate electrode 34 is formed on the element region AA with a gateinsulation film 42 interposed therebetween. For example, the gateinsulation film 42 is made of the silicon oxide film or siliconoxynitride film with film thicknesses range from 13 nm to 40 nm. Whenthe gate insulation film 42 has a film thickness of 13 nm or larger,even if a voltage of 15V or higher is applied between the gate electrode34 and the element region AA, generation of tunnel leakage current canbe prevented, therefore the reliability deterioration of the MOStransistor TR is suppressed.

The gate electrode 34 has a stacked structure. The gate electrode 34 andthe stacked gate of the memory cell transistor MT are simultaneouslyformed. The gate electrode 34 includes a first conductive layer 43 whichis formed on the gate insulation film 42, a block insulation film 44which is formed on the conductive layer 43, and a second conductivelayer 45 which is formed on the block insulation film 44.

The first conductive layer 43 is made of the same material as thefloating gate of the memory cell transistor MT, and the first conductivelayer 43 and the floating gate of the memory cell transistor MT aresimultaneously formed. That is, the first conductive layer 43 and thefloating gate of the memory cell transistor MT are made of conductivepolycrystalline silicon in which phosphorus or arsenic is doped with aconcentration of 10¹⁸ cm⁻³ to 10²¹ cm⁻³. The first conductive layer 43and the floating gate of the memory cell transistor MT have filmthicknesses of 10 nm to 500 nm.

Similarly to the floating gate, the first conductive layer 43 is formedin the element region partitioned by the element isolation region STI,both end portions in the gate width direction are brought into contactwith the insulation film 41 of the element isolation region STI. Theconfiguration can be formed as follows.

The n-type well region 11 is formed in the surface of the semiconductorsubstrate 10 by ion injection, and the p-type well region 12 is formedby ion injection. Then the gate insulation film 13 of the memory celltransistor MT, the gate insulation film 42 of the MOS transistor TR, andthe film (polycrystalline silicon layers 14 and 43) forming the floatinggate are deposited on the substrate 10. The gate insulation films 13 and42 and the polycrystalline silicon layers 14 and 43 are patterned, andthe semiconductor substrate 10 is etched to a depth of 0.1 μm to 0.3 μmto form the trench. Then the insulating material, such as a siliconoxide film, is buried in the trench to form the element isolation regionSTI. Therefore, the floating gate and the first conductive layer 43 canbe formed on a flat surface having no step.

The block insulation film 44 is made of the same material as theinter-gate insulation film 15 of the memory cell transistor MT throughthe same process. Examples of materials for the block insulation film 44with a film thickness of 5 nm to 30 nm include a silicon oxide film,oxynitride film, and stacked film of silicon oxide film/silicon nitridefilm/silicon oxide film. Examples of materials for the block insulationfilm 44 also include a single layer film made of any of Al₂O₃, HfSi_(x),AlSi_(x), HfAlO_(x) HfO_(x), and TiO_(x), and a stacked film of at leastany of Al₂O₃, HfSi_(x), AlSi_(x), HfAlO_(x), HfO_(x), and TiO_(x) and ahigh-dielectric film including a silicon oxide film, silicon nitridefilm, and silicon oxynitride film.

The second conductive layer 45 is made of the same material as thecontrol gate 16 of the memory cell transistor MT through the sameprocess. Examples of materials for the second conductive layer 45include a conductive polycrystalline silicon layer in which phosphorus,arsenic, or boron is doped with a concentration of 10¹⁷ cm⁻³ to 10²¹cm⁻³, a stacked structure film of WSi (tungsten silicide) andpolycrystalline silicon layer, a stacked structure film of one of W, WN,NiSi, MoSi, TiSi, and CoSi and a polycrystalline silicon layer, an NiSifilm, a MoSi film, a TiSi film, and a CoSi film. The example of a filmthickness of the second conductive layer 45 is 10 nm to 500 nm.Similarly to the control gate 16, the silicon oxide film or the siliconnitride film may be formed on the second conductive layer 45. A part ofthe block insulation film 44 is removed, and the first conductive layer43 and the second conductive layer 45 are connected in the removedregion. The second conductive layer 45 is formed in the second directionup to the element isolation region STI across the element region AA. Thetwo gate electrodes 34 are commonly connected through the secondconductive layer 45 (see FIG. 8) formed on the element isolation regionSTI.

The n-type impurity diffusion layer 31 is formed in the surface regionof the element region AA, and the n-type impurity diffusion layer 31functions as the LDD region of the source and drain of the MOStransistor TR. Similarly to the source and drain region 17 of the memorycell transistor MT, the diffusion layer 31 contains phosphorus, arsenic,or antimony such that the surface region of the diffusion layer 31 has aconcentration of 10¹⁷ cm⁻³ to 10²⁰ cm⁻³, and the diffusion layer 31 hasa junction depth of 10 nm to 300 nm. The diffusion layer 31 is formed ina self-aligned fashion with respect to the gate electrode 34.

The n-type impurity diffusion layer 32 is formed near a central portionof the diffusion layer 31 (see FIG. 10), and the n-type impuritydiffusion layer 32 pierces through the diffusion layer 31 from thesurface of the diffusion layer 31. The diffusion layer 32 contains animpurity having a concentration higher than that of the diffusion layer31. For example, the diffusion layer 32 contains phosphorus, arsenic, orantimony such that the surface region of the diffusion layer 32 has aconcentration of 10¹⁸ cm⁻³ to 10²² cm⁻³, and the diffusion layer 32 hasa junction depth of 40 nm to 500 nm. The diffusion layer 32 is formeddeeper than the diffusion layer 31, and the diffusion layer 32 has aresistance lower than that of the diffusion layer 31. As describedabove, the diffusion layer 32 is needed in order to reduce the contactresistances for the source and drain, and the diffusion layer 32 differsfrom the LDD region 31 in the peak concentration of the diffusionimpurities. The diffusion layer 32 has a peak concentration of 10²⁰ cm⁻³or higher to 10²² cm⁻³ while the LDD region 31 has a peak concentrationof 10¹⁷ cm⁻³ or higher to 10¹⁹ cm⁻³ or lower.

The p-type well region 36 is formed in the semiconductor substrate 10immediately below the element isolation region STI. The p-type wellregion 36 is provided in order to prevent punch-through between theelement regions AA separated by the element isolation region STI locatedimmediately above. Therefore, it is necessary that the resistance of thep-type well region 36 be set at a value sufficiently lower than that ofthe semiconductor substrate 10. The well region 36 has a depth of 0.5 μmto 1.6 μm from the surface of the semiconductor substrate 10, and theimpurity contained in the well region 36 has the peak concentration of10¹⁶ cm⁻³ to 10¹⁸ cm⁻³. For example, the well region 36 has a depth peakof about 1 μm. An end portion of the well region 36 is separated from anend portion of the element isolation region STI, and the distance d isthe distance between the end portions. More particularly, the distance dis a distance of closest approach of the well region 36 and a boundarybetween the element isolation region STI and the element region AA inthe surface of the semiconductor substrate 10 in the plane direction ofthe semiconductor substrate 10.

The p-type well region 37 is formed in the semiconductor substrate 10immediately below the element isolation region STI and adjacent to thewell region 36. The p-type well region 37 is provided in order toprevent a flowing a punch-through leakage current through theneighborhood of the bottom portion of the element isolation region STI.The well region 37 has a peak depth of 0 μm to 0.5 μm from the surfaceof the element isolation region STI, and the well region 37 contains animpurity having a peak concentration of 10¹⁶ cm⁻³ to 10¹⁸ cm⁻³. Forexample, the well region 36 has a depth peak of about 0.1 μm. An endportion of the well region 37 is separated from an end portion of theelement isolation region STI, and the distance c is the distance betweenthe end portions. More particularly, the distance c is a distance ofclosest approach of the well region 37 and a boundary between theelement isolation region STI and the element region AA in the surface ofthe semiconductor substrate 10 in the plane direction of thesemiconductor substrate 10. The distance c is smaller than the distanced.

The MOS transistor TR is formed by the diffusion layers 31 and 32 andthe gate electrode 34. The inter-layer insulation film 19 is formed onthe semiconductor substrate 10 so as to cover the MOS transistor TR.

The contact plugs CP4 and CP5 and the contact plug CP6 are formed in theinter-layer insulation film 19, the contact plugs CP4 and CP5 reach thediffusion layers 32-1 and 32-2 respectively, and the contact plug CP6reaches the second conductive layer 45. Each of the contact plugs CP4 toCP6 is formed by burying a conductive material in the contact holereaching the diffusion layers 32-1 and 32-2 and the second conductivelayer 45 from the surface of the inter-layer insulation film 19. Forexample, the contact hole has a diameter of 20 nm or larger to 200 nm orsmaller. Polycrystalline silicon in which phosphorus or arsenic is dopedis used as the conductive material buried in the contact hole.Alternatively, the conductive material includes a barrier metal layermade of Ti and TiN or TaN and a metal layer made of W or Cu.

The metal interconnection layers 33 and 35 are formed in the surface ofthe inter-layer insulation film 19. The metal interconnection layer 33is connected to the contact plug CP5, and the metal interconnectionlayer 35 is connected to the contact plugs CP4 and CP6. The metalinterconnection layers 33 and 35 are formed by the following method. Atrench of 50 nm or lager to 500 nm or smaller is formed in the surfaceof the inter-layer insulation film 19. A barrier metal layer made of Tiand TiN or TaN is formed in the trench, and W or Cu is buried in thetrench to complete the metal interconnection layers 33 and 35.Alternatively, etching may be performed into a desired pattern by RIEafter W or Cu is deposited on the whole surface of the inter-layerinsulation film 19.

<<Dimensions of MOS Transistor TR>>

The distances a to d and the gate length g relating to the MOStransistor TR having the above-described configuration will be describedwith reference to FIG. 11. FIG. 11 is a graph showing correspondence ofthe MOS transistors TR1 to TR9 and the distances a to d and the gatelength g.

The distances a to d are increased as the MOS transistor TR is closer tothe output node, i.e., the MOS transistor TR is in a later stage in theseries connection of the MOS transistors TR. On the other hand, the gatelength g is decreased, as the MOS transistor TR is located in a laterstage in the series connection of the MOS transistors TR.

First the distance a will be described below. The distances a areequalized to one another in the MOS transistors TR1 to TR3. That is,a1=a2=a3. The distances a are equalized to one another in the MOStransistors TR4 to TR7, and the distances a of the MOS transistors TR4to TR7 are set to be larger than the distances a of the MOS transistorsTR1 to TR3. That is, a4=a5=a6=a7>a1 to a3. The distances a of the MOStransistors TR8 and TR9 are larger than the distances a of the MOStransistors TR1 to TR7.

For example, the distances a4 to a7 are set in the range of 0.5 μm to1.2 μm. The distances a1 to a3 are smaller than the distances a4 to a7by the range of 0.1 μm to 0.4 μm, and the distances a8 and a9 aresmaller than the distances a4 to a7 by the range of 0.2 μm to 0.8 μm.

Next the distances b to d will be described. The distances b to d areequalized to one another in the MOS transistors TR1 to TR3. That is,b1=b2=b3, c1=c2=c3, and d1=d2=d3. The distances b to d are equalized toone another in the MOS transistors TR4 to TR9, and the distances b to dof the MOS transistors TR4 to TR9 are larger than the distances b to dof the MOS transistors TR1 to TR3. That is, b4=b5=b6=b7=b8=b9>b1 to b3,c4=c5=c6=c7=c8=c9>c1 to c3, and d4=d5=d6=d7=d8=d9>d1 to d3.

For example, the distances b1 to b3 are set in the range of 0 μm to 1.0μm. The distances b4 to b9 are larger than the distances b1 to b3 by therange of 0.1 μm to 0.4 μm. The distances b1′ and b2′ are set at the samevalues as the distances b1 to b3. On the other hand, the distances b3′to b9′ may be equal to the distances b1 to b3. However, the distancesb3′ to b9′ may be larger than the distances b1 to b3 to keep thesufficient junction breakdown voltage. The distances b3′ to b9′ are setin the range of 0 μm to the value of the distance b4 or smaller.

For example, the distances c1 to c3 are set in the range of 0.2 μm to1.0 μm, and the distances c4 to c9 are larger than the distances b1 tob3 by the range of 0.1 μm to 0.6 μm.

For example, the distances d1 to d3 are set in the range of 0.6 μm to1.6 μm, and the distances d4 to d9 are larger than the distances d1 tod3 by the range of 0.1 μm to 0.6 μm.

Next the gate length g will be described. The gate lengths g areequalized to one another in the MOS transistors TR2 to TR9, and the gatelengths g of the MOS transistors TR2 to TR9 are set smaller than thegate length g of the MOS transistor TR1. That is,g2=g3=g4=g5=g6=g7=g8=g9<g1.

The gate lengths g2 to g9 are set in the range of 1.5 μm to 3.5 μm. Forexample, the gate lengths g2 to g9 are set to 2.4 μm. The gate lengthsg1 is larger than the gate lengths g2 to g9 by the range of 0.4 μm to1.0 μm. For example, the gate lengths g1 is set to 3.0 μm.

<<Operation of Charge Pump Circuit>>

An operation of the charge pump circuit 6 having the above-describedconfiguration will be described below with reference to FIG. 12. FIG. 12is a timing chart showing the clock φ2 and/φ2 and a change in potentialat each of the nodes N1, N2, N8, and N9 in the charge pump circuit ofFIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 12, both the clock signals φ2 and/φ2 can take a voltageVcc in “High” level and GND in “Low” level, and the clock signals φ2and/φ2 are a so-called two-phase clock in which the voltage Vcc isoutput such that output timings are not overlapped with each other. Thisis because a time for cutting off the conduction state between the MOStransistors TR adjacent to each other is provided in theseries-connected MOS transistors TR1 to TR9. This enables the charges tobe prevented from flowing back from the node N9 toward the node N1. Avoltage of 3V to 10V is used as the voltage Vcc, whereby a high voltageof 10V or higher is obtained as the output voltage Vout. The outputvoltage Vout is used as voltages VPGM and VPSS. In FIG. 4, Vth1, Vth2, .. . , and Vthi (i is an integer of 1 to 9) are threshold voltages of theMOS transistor TRi. The power supply voltage Vdd ranges from 1V to 4V,and desirably the power supply voltage Vdd is matched with the powersupply voltage of the NAND-type flash memory 1. This is because thematching of the power supply voltage Vdd and the power supply voltage ofthe NAND-type flash memory 1 can reduce the power supply impedance toprevent a fluctuation in output voltage.

The operation of the charge pump circuit 6 will be described below withreference to FIG. 12. In the case where the clock signal φ2 has thepotential of GND and the MOS transistor TR2 is in the non-conductionstate, the MOS transistor TR1 is in the conduction state, and the nodeN1 is charged to a voltage which is lowered from Vdd by a thresholdvoltage Vth1 of the threshold voltage Vthi, that is, (Vdd-Vth1).

When the clock signal φ2 continuously rises to Vcc, the potential at thenode N1 is increased by αVcc due to capacitive coupling of the capacitorelement C1.

As a result, the potential at the node N1 is increased up to(Vdd−Vth1+αVcc). The voltage amplitude at the node N1 is decreased toαVcc by a charge sharing of the capacitor element C1 and the MOStransistors TR1 and TR2. α is a value corresponding to a bootstrapratio, α is slightly smaller than 1, and α usually ranges from 0.7 to 1.

The MOS transistor TR2 turns into the conduction state while the clocksignal φ2 has the voltage Vcc. Therefore, the voltage at the node N1 istransferred to the node N2 until the potential at the node N2 isincreased to {(potential at the node N1)−Vth2)}, and the potential atthe node N2 substantially rises to {(Vdd−Vth1+αVcc)−Vth2}.

Then clock signal φ2 becomes 0V and the MOS transistor TR2 turns intothe non-conduction state. The clock signal /φ2 rises from GND (0V) toVcc, whereby the potential at the node N2 is increased by αVcc due tothe capacitive coupling of the capacitor element C2. As a result, thepotential at the node N2 substantially rises to{(Vdd−Vth1+αVcc)−Vth2}+αVcc. In the first embodiment, because a forwardcurrent driving performance per unit width of the MOS transistor TR2 canbe improved, a high boosting performance can be realized with the MOStransistor having smaller dimensions (occupied area). The same holdstrue for the MOS transistor TR3. This point is described in detaillater.

Then the MOS transistor TR3 becomes the conduction state while the clocksignal /φ2 has the voltage Vcc. Therefore, the voltage at the node N2 istransferred to the node N3 until the potential at the node N3 isincreased to {(potential at the node N2)−Vth3}.

The charge transfer is mutually repeated to perform the boosting to thenode N9. While the signal /φ2 has the voltage Vcc, the MOS transistorsTR1, TR3, TR5, TR7, and TR9 are in the conduction state, and the MOStransistors TR2, TR4, TR6, and TR8 are in the non-conduction state.Therefore, the currents are passed from the Vdd node to the node N1,from the node N2 to the node N3, from the node N4 to the node N5, fromthe node N6 to the node N7, from the node N8 to the node N9 to transferthe charges. While the signal φ2 has the voltage Vcc, the MOStransistors TR2, TR4, TR6, and TR8 are in the conduction state, and theMOS transistors TR1, TR3, TR5, TR7, and TR9 are in the non-conductionstate. Therefore, the currents are passed from the node N1 to the nodeN2, from the node N3 to the node N4, from the node N5 to the node N6,from the node N7 to the node N8 to transfer the charges. At this point,in the MOS transistors TR4 to TR9, a threshold voltage increase is smallwhen the back bias is applied, and the forward current drivingperformance per unit width of the transistor is enhanced. Therefore, ahigher boosting performance can be realized, and such high boostingperformance can be realized with a MOS transistor having smallerdimensions (occupied area). Particularly, in the MOS transistor TR9, thejunction breakdown voltage and the surface breakdown voltage areenhanced, therefore the boosting can be performed to a higher voltage.This point is also described in detail later. In the case where acapacitive load such as the word line is electrically connected to thenode N9, the output voltage is smoothed by the capacitive load as shownin FIG. 12.

FIG. 13 shows the state in which the clocks φ2 and /φ2 are stopped inthe charge pump circuit 6 of FIG. 3 after the output voltage Vout isboosted to {Vdd+8α·Vcc−(Vth1+Vth2+Vth3+Vth4+Vth5+Vth6+Vth7+Vth8+Vth9)),and FIG. 13 is a timing chart showing the clocks φ2 and /φ2 and thepotential at each of the nodes N1, N2, N8, and N9 in the charge pumpcircuit 6 of FIG. 3.

In the case where the power supply is suddenly cut off after a largecapacitive load such as the p-type well region 12 is boosted, anextremely large voltage is sometimes applied to the semiconductorelement included in the charge pump circuit 6. It is therefore necessarythat the charge pump circuit 6 be designed such that the semiconductorelement is not degraded and the large leakage current is not generatedeven in the case.

In the first embodiment, the current passed between the node N9 and thenode N8 until the MOS transistor TR9 is turned off, that is, the currentis stopped when the potential at the node N8 is not lower than (Vout−ΔV:TR9). As used herein, ΔV shall mean a voltage corresponding to ΔV in thecase where the voltage between the source electrode and the gateelectrode is set at (Vout−ΔV) in passing a current Ith which is athreshold current between the source electrode and the drain electrodeof the MOS transistor TR9, when the voltage Vout is lowered at the statein which the voltage of 0V is applied to the semiconductor substrate 10,the voltage Vout is applied to the drain electrode and the voltages atthe source electrode and gate electrode are equalized. It is assumedthat the threshold current Ith is set at (40 nA×(W/L)) when a transistorhas a gate length L and channel width W.

Similarly, in the MOS transistors TR2 to TR8 preceding the MOStransistor TR9, the current is passed to lower the potentials at thenodes N1 to N7 until each transistor is turned off. In such cases, thevoltage at the node N9 is transferred in the direction of the node N1and lowered by the threshold voltages of the MOS transistors. Therefore,for example, the potential of the node N7 becomes (Vout−ΔV:TR9)−ΔV:TR8,and the potential of the node N6 becomes (Vout−ΔV:TR9)−ΔV:TR8−ΔV:TR7. Asused herein, ΔV:TR8 shall mean an amount of voltage drop of the node N7with respect to the node N8, and the amount of voltage drop satisfies acondition that the current is stopped in the MOS transistor TR8 as shownin FIG. 13. The amount of voltage drop of the node N(i−1) with respectto the node Ni satisfying the condition that the current is stopped inthe MOS transistor TRi is referred to as (ΔV:TRi). Accordingly, comparedwith the MOS transistor connected to the node N9, a low-voltagetransistor can be used as the MOS transistors connected to the nodes N1and N2.

<Sectional Relationship and Operations of Memory Cell Array and ChargePump Circuit>

A sectional relationship between the memory cell array 2 and the chargepump circuit 6 and operations of the memory cell array 2 and the chargepump circuit 6 will be described below with reference to FIG. 14. FIG.14 is a sectional view showing the NAND-type flash memory 1, andparticularly FIG. 14 shows a region including a part of the region ofthe memory cell array 2 and a part of the region of the charge pumpcircuit 6.

FIG. 14 also shows a MOS transistor Q1 having a withstand voltage higherthan that of the memory cell transistor MT in addition to the memorycell array 2 and the charge pump circuit 6. The MOS transistor Q1 isincluded in a circuit block except for the memory cell array 2, forexample, included in the row decoder 3 and voltage generating circuit 4.FIG. 14 shows a section in the gate length direction for all the MOStransistors and capacitor elements C. However, it is not alwaysnecessary that elements be disposed so as to obtain the sections of FIG.14. In FIG. 14, a MOS transistor Q2 corresponds to the memory celltransistor MT or the selection transistor ST, and a MOS transistor Q3corresponds to the MOS transistors TR1 to TR9.

In an EEPROM such as a flash memory, it is necessary to provide ahigh-voltage generating circuit (voltage generating circuit 4 in FIG. 1)which generates a high voltage from a low voltage. The high-voltagegenerating circuit generates a voltage difference of 10V to 15V orhigher with respect to the semiconductor substrate 10. Therefore, thehigh-voltage generating circuit includes a boosting circuit. A chargepump circuit (charge pump circuit 6 in FIG. 1) can be cited as anexample of the boosting circuit.

The charge pump circuit includes plural capacitors (capacitor elementsC1 to C9 in FIG. 3), in which the charges are accumulated, and pluraltransistors (MOS transistors TR1 to TR9 in FIG. 3) which control thecharge accumulation. In the first embodiment, MOS transistor Q1 is shownin FIG. 14 as an example of a transistor. The MOS transistor Q1 is ahigh-voltage transistor. The high-voltage transistor includes the gateinsulation film 42 having a film thickness larger than that of thememory cell transistor Q2 so as to withstand the voltage of 15V orhigher with respect to the potential at the substrate 1.

Each of the capacitors C is formed on the element region AA provided inthe semiconductor substrate 10. Each of the element regions AA issurrounded by the element isolation region STI, and the element regionsAA are electrically separated from each other. Similarly to the MOStransistor Q3, the capacitor C includes the gate insulation film 42, thegate electrode 34, and the n-type impurity diffusion layers 31 and 32.The gate electrode 34 is formed on an n-type well region 51 formed inthe surface of the semiconductor substrate 10 (element region AA).Similarly to the gate electrode 34 of the MOS transistor TR, the gateelectrode 34 of the capacitor C includes the first conductive layer 43formed on the gate insulation film 42, the block insulation film 44formed on the conductive layer 43, and the second conductive layer 45formed on the block insulation film 44. The diffusion layers 31 and 32are also formed in the well region 51. The well region 51 and thediffusion layers 31 and 32 function as one of the electrodes of thecapacitor C, the conductive layers 43 and 45 function as the otherelectrode, and the gate insulation film 42 functions as the capacitorinsulation film. The gate insulation film 42 of the capacitor C has afilm thickness larger than that of the memory cell transistor Q2 so asto withstand the voltage of 15V or higher with respect to the potentialat the well region 51. The same gate insulation film is used by thecapacitor C and the MOS transistor Q3, which allows the charge pumpcircuit 6 to be realized without increasing the number of productionprocesses.

In the flash memory, during the data erase or data write, usually apositive voltage of 15V or higher is applied to the well region 12 orthe control gate 18. From this standpoint, it is necessary that thehigh-voltage transistor including the gate insulation film having alarge film thickness be used as the transistor Q3. The gate insulationfilm 42 of the MOS transistor Q3 may have a film thickness of 16 nm to50 nm, and the gate insulation film 42 is made of a material such assilicon oxide film and the oxynitride film. The voltage of 15V or higheris applied between the drain of the high-voltage transistor Q3 and thesemiconductor substrate 10. Therefore, a channel region having animpurity concentration of 10¹⁴ cm⁻³ to 5×10¹⁶ cm⁻³ is required to avoidthe junction breakdown in a region from a surface to a depth of 1 μm.

In the first embodiment, the p-type semiconductor substrate 10 is usedas the channel region.

As shown in FIG. 14, the p-type well region 12 is formed in the surfaceregion of the semiconductor substrate 10. An n-type well region 50 isformed in the side surface of the well region 12 so as to contact thewell region 12, and the n-type well region 11 is formed in the lowerregion of the well region so as to contact the well regions 12 and 50.Therefore, the p-type well region 12 is surrounded by the n-type wellregions 11 and 50, and the well region 12 is electrically separated fromthe semiconductor substrate 10. The well region 12 is electricallyseparated from the semiconductor substrate 10, so that the voltage atthe well region 12 can be changed independently of the semiconductorsubstrate 10 according to the operation. The use of the above-describeddouble well structure can reduce the load on the charge pump circuit 6to lower power consumption.

The MOS transistor Q2 functioning as the memory cell transistor MT isformed on the well region 12. The memory cell transistors MT areseparated in the word line direction by the element isolation regionSTI. The element isolation region STI has a depth of about 0.1 μm toabout 0.5 μm. As described above, the element isolation region STI isformed by burying an insulating material such as silicon oxide film inthe trench having a depth of about 0.1 μm to about 0.5 μm made in thesemiconductor substrate 10.

In order to realize an uniformity of the data erase quality in theplural memory cell transistors Q2, it is necessary to equalize thepotential in the well region 12. Therefore, the well region 12, that is,the boundary between the well region 12 and the well region 11, has asufficient depth compared with the bottom surface of the elementisolation region STI. The well region 12 has a depth of 0.4 μm or moreto 0.9 μm or less from the surface of the semiconductor substrate 10.For example, the well region 12 has a depth of 0.5 μm. For example,boron is doped in the well region 12, and the impurity concentration ofthe well region 12 is set in the range of 10¹⁴ cm⁻³ to 10¹⁹ cm⁻³. Thewell region 11, that is, the boundary between the well region 11 and thesemiconductor substrate 10, has a depth of 1.2 μm to 4 μm from thesurface of the semiconductor substrate 10.

The stacked gate of the memory cell transistor Q2 has a gate length(width of the stacked gate in the direction in which the source, thechannel, and the drain are sequentially disposed) of 0.01 μm or largerto 0.5 μm or smaller.

In the NAND-type EEPROM, the tunnel current through the tunnelinsulation film 13 is utilized for the data erase, that is, the chargeinjection into the floating gate 14 or the charge emission from thefloating gate 14. In the NOR-type flash memory, sometimes the tunnelcurrent is utilized during the data erase in order to be less affectedby the short channel effect.

The data erase is simultaneously performed on plural memory celltransistors in order to increase the number of memory cells erased perunit time. That is, the memory cell transistor enables collective dataerase. Therefore, during the data erase, a positive voltage of 15V orhigher is applied to the well region 12 with respect to thesemiconductor substrate 10, which extracts the charges from the floatinggate 14 to the well region 12.

On the other hand, during the data read and data write, the well region12 is kept at the voltage of 0V to lower the voltage applied to thediffusion layer 17. Therefore, the electric power for charging anddischarging the well region 12 can be reduced to enhance an operationspeed. In the NAND-type flash memory according to the first embodiment,the node N9 of the charge pump circuit 6 is selectively connected to thewell region 12 or control gate 16 (word line WL) of the memory celltransistor Q2 to perform the data erase and the data write.

It is assumed that each of the MOS transistors of FIG. 14 is formed onthe p-type semiconductor substrate 10 having the same impurityconcentration and the well regions are electrically connected to thewell terminals, respectively. Therefore, the number of types of thetransistors can be decreased, the increase of the number of processesfor changing the channel concentration of each transistor can beprevented, and a well resistance to each transistor can be decreased.

The MOS transistor Q1 is a high-voltage transistor having the structuresimilar to that of the MOS transistor Q3. The MOS transistors Q1 and Q3have the substantially same structure as the memory cell transistor Q3except for the allowable voltage range. The MOS transistors Q1 and Q3differ from the memory cell transistor Q3 in that the first conductivefilm 43 and the second conductive film 45 are connected through anopening formed in the block insulation film 12. Therefore, the first andsecond conductive films 43 and 45 can be used as one gate electrodewhile the MOS transistors Q1 and Q3 have a stacked gate structuresimilar to that of the memory cell transistor Q3. The same holds truefor the capacitor C which is used as the capacitor element of the chargepump circuit 6.

The element isolation regions STI are formed in the boundary portions ofthe regions where the memory cell array 2, the MOS transistor Q1, theMOS transistor Q3, and the capacitor C are formed. The p-type wellregion 36 having the same conductive type as the semiconductor substrate10 is formed immediately below the element isolation region STI. A partof the well region 36 is formed so as to reach the surface of thesemiconductor substrate 10 (nMOS forming region in FIG. 14). The nMOSforming region is used as an n-channel MOS transistor forming region.Obviously, as described above, the well region 36 has the function ofpreventing punch-through. The distance d from the well region 36 to theboundary between the element isolation region STI and the element regionAA is decreased to reduce an element area. However, the junctionbreakdown voltages of the source and drain are deteriorated.

The p-type region 37 is formed in order to prevent a punch-throughleakage current in the bottom portion of the element isolation regionSTI. The distance c from the p-type region 37 to the boundary betweenthe element isolation region STI and the element region AA is decreasedto reduce the element area. However, the junction breakdown voltages ofthe source and drain are deteriorated.

<Effect>

Thus, in the NAND-type flash memory according to the first embodiment ofthe invention, the boosting efficiency can be enhanced while theincrease in circuit area is prevented. The effect according to the firstembodiment will be described below compared with the conventionalconfiguration.

<<Conventional Configuration>>

Conventionally, a configuration in which a rectifying element and apn-junction diode are used is known as the configuration of the chargepump circuit in which the rectifying element and the capacitor elementare used. However, the following problems are generated when thepn-junction diode is used.

For example, in the case where an ordinary two-terminal diode is formedon the p-type semiconductor substrate through a MOS process, an n-typewell region is formed in the semiconductor substrate, and a p⁺-typeregion having an acceptor concentration higher than that of the n-typewell region is formed in the n-type well region, thereby electricallyseparating the semiconductor substrate and the diode. In the case of theMOS process, it is necessary that the n-type well region be formed bylithography having a loose design rule. Accordingly, the element size isinevitably enlarged. For example, the n-type well region, which can berealized by lithography with a loose design rule, has a width of about0.6 μm to about 5 μm, and a facing area between the n-type well regionand the P-type semiconductor substrate is enlarged, which results in aproblem in that the junction leakage current is increased.

In the case where a forward bias is applied to the pn-junction in thediode formed by the p⁺-type region and the n-type well region,conduction electrons flow into the p-type region through thepn-junction, and holes flow into the n-type region, and minoritycarriers are accumulated. Then, in the case where a reverse bias isapplied subsequently to the pn-junction, a switching time of the diodeis delayed by the time the minority carriers accumulated near thepn-junction are completely extracted, which is a so-called reverserecovery time. For example, the delay time ranges from 50 ns to 500 ns.Therefore, high-speed switching of the diode is hardly performed, whichresults in a problem in that a frequency upper limit of the chargetransfer is restricted by an inverse number of the switching time.

Considering the above-described problems, the MOS transistor isfrequently used as the rectifying element of the charge pump circuit.That is, the drain and gate of the MOS transistor are connected, a draincurrent is passed through the source when the drain voltage is higherthan the threshold voltage, and the drain current is not passed throughthe source when the drain voltage is lower than the threshold voltage,which allows the rectifying element to be realized. At this point, theswitching time of the rectifying element mainly depends on a transittime of the majority carriers between the source and the drain and timeconstants of the gate capacitance and gate resistance. Therefore,high-speed switching can be performed compared with the pn-junctiondiode, and the switching time ranges from about 40 ns to about 100 ns.Accordingly, the frequency upper limit of the charge transfer can beimproved to the charge and discharge time defined by the capacitorelement and the resistance of the transistor. In the case of therectifying element in which the MOS transistor is used, the thresholdvoltage is set higher than the voltage of 0V when the back bias voltageof −Vdd to −Vout is applied, which allows a rectifying element to berealized. As a result, in the case where the back bias is applied, thethreshold voltage is set at a voltage lower than a built-in voltage ofthe pn-junction, for example, 0.6V, so that a charge pump circuit havinga high boosting efficiency can be realized.

However, even in the charge pump circuit in which the MOS transistor isused as the rectifying element, the following problems are generated.Similarly to the configuration according to the first embodiment of FIG.3, it is assumed that k (k is a natural number) MOS transistors TRi (i=1to k) functioning as the rectifying elements are series-connected.

In the MOS transistor TRi, a voltage higher than that of the MOStransistor TR(i−1) is applied to the source and the drain by theboosting operation. Accordingly, in the case where the MOS transistorsTRi are formed on the common p-type semiconductor substrate, an acceptorcharge amount is increased in a channel depletion layer of the MOStransistor TR, leading to increasing the threshold voltage. This is aso-called back bias effect. Due to the back bias effect, the thresholdvoltage Vthi of the MOS transistor TRi which is operated in theconduction state is higher than the threshold voltage Vth(i−1) of theMOS transistor TR(i−1) which is operated in the conduction state.

The maximum voltage at the node Ni is higher than the maximum voltage atthe node N(i−1) by (αVcc-Vthi). That is, as i is increased, the voltagewhich can be boosted per one stage is lowered by the increase in Vthi.Accordingly, in the final-stage MOS transistor TRk (i=k), the boostingefficiency is deteriorated most significantly.

In order to generate a high voltage, it is necessary to increase thenumber of stages of the MOS transistor TR and capacitor element, whichresults in a problem of the deterioration of the boosting performanceand enlargement of the circuit area. A series resistance of the sourceand drain is increased in the structure in which the MOS transistors TR2to TRk have the same dimensions or in the MOS transistor TR1 near thefirst stage, which results in a problem in that a sufficient currentdriving performance cannot be secured. Additionally, it is necessary tomaintain a high breakdown voltage in the final-stage MOS transistor TRk.However, in the case where the MOS transistors TR2 to TRk have the samedimensions, a balance is hardly established between the high-voltageoutput and the high current driving performance.

Thus, the following problems are generated in the charge pump circuit inwhich the MOS transistors functioning as the rectifying elements areseries-connected:

(A) The threshold voltage is increased by the back bias effect as theMOS transistor is located in a later stage. Accordingly, in order togenerate a high voltage, it is necessary to increase the number ofstages of the MOS transistor and capacitor element, which lowers theboosting performance and enlarges the circuit area.

(B) When the first-stage or second-stage MOS transistor and thefinal-stage MOS transistor have the same dimensions, the seriesresistance of the source and drain is increased. Therefore, a sufficientcurrent driving performance is hardly secured.

(C) It is difficult to maintain both of the high current drivingperformance and the high breakdown voltage in the later-stage MOStransistor

As an example, FIG. 15 is a timing chart showing the clocks φ2 and /φ2and the voltages at the nodes N1, N2, N8, and N9 when the distances a tod and the gate lengths g of the MOS transistors TR1 to TR9 are setidentical in the charge pump circuit of FIG. 3. FIG. 15 shows the casein which the distances b to d and the gate length g are set to the samevalues as the MOS transistor TR2 according to the first embodiment andthe distance a is set to the same value as the MOS transistor TR4. InFIG. 15, a broken line indicates a waveform of the charge pump circuitaccording to the first embodiment. As can be seen from FIG. 15, theoutput voltage of the later-stage MOS transistor TR is lowered, and theoutput voltage of the final-stage MOS transistor TR9 (node 9) is largelydecreased compared with the configuration according to the firstembodiment.

Configuration of First Embodiment

The configuration according to the first embodiment can solve suchproblems. The effect according to the first embodiment will be describedbelow with reference to FIGS. 16 to 32. FIGS. 16 to 32 are graphsshowing a static characteristic according to layout dimensions of theMOS transistor TR, and the graphs of FIGS. 16 to 32 become pieces ofdata with which the change in forward current per unit width canquantitatively be discussed. In FIG. 16 to FIG. 32, a mark “x” indicatesan actual value, marks “∘”, “Δ”, and “□” indicate a median, and a solidline in the graph connects the medians. In the following description,“surface breakdown voltage” shall mean a junction breakdown voltage inthe case where the drain voltage is increased while the gate voltage ofthe MOS transistor TR and the voltage at the semiconductor substrate 10are set to 0V. In such cases, the surface breakdown voltage isdeteriorated because the semiconductor channel surface becomes apotential close to the accumulation state due to the voltage at the gateelectrode 34 rather than the usual junction breakdown voltage.

FIGS. 16 to 20 are graphs showing various characteristics when thedistance a is changed. FIG. 16 shows an increase ΔVth in thresholdvoltage of the MOS transistor TR when a voltage Vsub at thesemiconductor substrate 10 is changed from 0V to −28V. FIGS. 17 and 18show a forward current I(on) of the MOS transistor TR when a voltagehigher than the source by 2.4V is applied to the drain and gate. FIGS.19 and 20 show a pn-junction breakdown voltage DSVpn and a surfacebreakdown voltage DSVsurf. The a-I(on) characteristic is shown at thevoltages Vsub 0V, −20V, −25V, and −28V.

FIGS. 21 and 22 are graphs showing various characteristics when thedistance b is changed. FIGS. 21 and 22 show the pn-junction breakdownvoltage DSVpn and the surface breakdown voltage DSVsurf, respectively.

FIGS. 23 to 27 are graphs showing various characteristics when thedistance c is changed. FIG. 23 shows the increase ΔVth in thresholdvoltage, FIGS. 24 and 25 show the forward current I(on), and FIGS. 26and 27 shows the pn-junction breakdown voltage DSVpn and the surfacebreakdown voltage DSVsurf, respectively. The c-I(on) characteristic isshown at the voltages Vsub 0V, −25V, and −28V.

FIGS. 28 to 32 are graphs showing various characteristics when thedistance d is changed. FIG. 28 shows the increase ΔVth in thresholdvoltage, FIGS. 29 and 30 show the forward current I(on), and FIGS. 31and 32 show the pn-junction breakdown voltage DSVpn and the surfacejunction breakdown voltage DSVsurf, respectively. The d-I(on)characteristic is shown at the voltages Vsub 0V, −25V, and −28V.

(1) MOS TRANSISTORS TR2 AND TR3

The distances a2 and a3 of the MOS transistors TR2 and TR3 according tothe first embodiment is smaller than the distances a4 to a8 of the MOStransistors TR4 to TR8. More specifically, the distances a4 to a7 arekept constant in the range of 0.5 μm to 1.2 μm, and the distances a2 anda3 are smaller than the distances a4 to a7 by a range of 0.1 μm to 0.4μm. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, when the back bias (Vsub) ranges from0V to 20V, the forward currents of the MOS transistors TR2 and TR3having smaller distances a can be increased compared with thelater-stage MOS transistors TR4 to TR9, which have larger distances a.As described later, the inventor has found that dependence of theforward current I(on) on the distance a is reversed with a back bias of−20 to −25V.

When the distance a is decreased, the breakdown voltage, particularlythe surface breakdown voltage DSVsurf, is deteriorated, as shown in FIG.20. However, when a difference between the distances a2 and a3 and thedistances a4 to a7 is restricted to 0.4 μm or smaller, the deteriorationof the withstand voltage DSVsurf can be suppressed to 5V or lowercompared with the distances a4 to a7.

In the case where the charge pump circuit is stopped while boosted tothe voltage Vout as shown in FIG. 13, this voltage Vout may possibly beapplied to the node N2 due to the reverse flow from the output nodethrough the MOS transistors TR4 to TR9 in the drains of the MOStransistors TR2 and TR3. For example, such case might be generated whenthe external power supply of the NAND-type flash memory is rapidlylowered due to an electric power failure or the like. It is thereforenecessary that the product circuit design is performed such that ajunction breakdown does not occur even in the above case. Particularly,in the MOS transistor TR located on the high-voltage side (later-stageside), because the threshold voltage is increased in the range of 0.5Vor higher to 2V or lower by the back bias effect, a voltage drop isgenerated by the threshold voltage increase at the voltage node on thepreceding-stage side compared to the voltage node on the later-stageside. Therefore, the problem of increasing the potential at the node N2can effectively be prevented. Therefore, in the first embodiment, thegeneration of dielectric breakdown can be prevented even if the MOStransistor having a surface breakdown voltage or junction breakdownvoltage lower than that of the node N9 of the later-stage MOS transistorTR9 is used as the preceding-stage MOS transistors TR2 and TR3.

As shown in FIG. 16, when the distances a2 and a3 of the MOS transistorsTR2 and TR3 are decreased, the threshold voltage is increased inchanging the back bias from 0V to −28V. However, because the MOStransistors TR2 and TR3 are located in the preceding stage, the effectof increasing the forward current is much larger than the increase inthreshold voltage, therefore the effect of increasing the current passedthrough the rectifying element per unit width is obtained.

(2) MOS TRANSISTOR TR1

In the configuration according to the first embodiment, the MOStransistor TR1 has the same distance a1 as the distances a2 and a3. Thegate length g1 of the MOS transistor TR1 is larger than the gate lengthsg2 to g9 of the MOS transistors TR2 to TR9. The gate lengths g2 to g9ranges from 1.5 μm to 3.5 μm. For example, the gate lengths g2 to g9 areset to 2.4 μm. On the other hand, the gate length g1 is smaller than thegate lengths g2 to g9 by the range of 0.4 μm to 1.0 μm. For example, thegate length g1 is set to 3.0 μm.

Therefore, the reverse flow of the current to the Vdd node can beprevented in the status shown in FIG. 13. This point will be describedbelow. In the MOS transistor TR1, the maximum potential at the currentterminal is lower than that of the MOS transistor TR2, and the degree ofincrease in threshold voltage caused by the back bias is small when thecurrent is transferred. When the MOS transistor TR1 is formed with thesame dimensions as the MOS transistors TR2 to TR9, the threshold voltageof the MOS transistor TR1 is lowered in order to satisfy requirements ofthe charge transfer in the MOS transistor TR9. In the status of FIG. 13,the leakage current is easily passed from the node N1 toward the Vddnode. However, in the configuration according to the first embodiment,the relationship of g1>g2 to g9 holds. Accordingly, the thresholdvoltage can be increased by preventing the short channel effect in theMOS transistor TR1. Additionally, the distance between the source andthe drain 32 can be increased to prevent a leakage current between thesource and the drain. Therefore, the voltage fluctuation can beprevented at the Vdd node and the reverse flow of the current from thenode N1 toward the Vdd node can be suppressed.

(3) MOS TRANSISTORS TR4 TO TR9

(3-1) Distance b

In the first embodiment, the MOS transistors TR4 to TR9 are larger thanthe MOS transistors TR1 to TR3 in the distances b in the gate widthdirection. The distances b1 to b3 are set at a constant value of 0 μm to1.0 μm, and the distances b4 to b9 or smaller are larger than thedistances b1 to b3 by the range of 0.1 μm to 0.4 μm.

As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the breakdown voltage is improved byincreasing the distance b. At this point, as shown in FIG. 6, the widthin the gate width direction of the diffusion layer 32 is smaller thanthat of the MOS transistor TR2, so that the distance b can be decreasedwithout increasing the dimensions of the active region. The distance bin the gate length direction may be set at the same value as the MOStransistors TR1 to TR3 when the junction breakdown voltage does notdegrade. The distances b4 to b9 in the gate length direction range frommore than 0 μm and smaller than the distances b4 to b9 in the gate widthdirection.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 6, and 7, the distance from the end portion of thediffusion layer 32 to the contact plugs CP4 and CP5 formed on thediffusion layer 32 is usually kept constant. Therefore, in the distancefrom the contact plugs CP4 and CP5 to the end portion of the elementisolation region STI adjacent to the contact plugs CP4 and CP5, the MOStransistors TR1 to TR3 are smaller than the MOS transistors TR4 to TR9.That is, it can be said that the distance b is equivalently a “distancein the gate width direction from the contact plugs CP4 and CP5 to theelement isolation region STI (that is, boundary between the elementregion AA and the element isolation region STI)”.

(3-2) Distance c

In the first embodiment, the MOS transistors TR4 to TR9 are larger thanthe MOS transistors TR1 to TR3 in the distance c. The distances c1 to c3are set at a constant value of 0.2 μm to 1.0 μm, and the distances c4 toc9 are larger than the distances c1 to c3 by the range of 0.1 μm to 0.6μm.

As shown in FIG. 23, an increase in threshold voltage can be reduced byincreasing the distance c when the back bias is changed from 0V to −28V.Accordingly, in the MOS transistors TR4 to TR9, a higher boostingvoltage can be transferred compared with the preceding-stage MOStransistors TR1 to TR3.

As shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, when the back bias ranges from 0V to −28V,the forward current can be increased by increasing the distance c, sothat a larger boosting current can be passed through compared with theMOS transistors TR1 to TR3.

This is attributed to the fact that, although the depletion layer isspread in the semiconductor substrate 10 when the back bias is applied,the increase in threshold voltage is relieved because the end of thedepletion layer is fixed by the existence of the region 37. Therefore,as a larger back bias is applied, the ratio of the increase in forwardcurrent is increased due to the increase in distance c. In the firstembodiment, preferably the distance c is increased in the MOStransistors TR4 to TR9 to which the large back bias is applied ratherthan the MOS transistors TR1 to TR3 near the boosting first stage towhich the back bias is not applied too much. Therefore, the boostingperformance of the charge pump circuit relative to the circuit area canbe improved.

As shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, the junction breakdown voltage,particularly the surface breakdown voltage DSVsurf, can also beincreased by increasing the distance c. This is attributed to the factthat the electric field of the pn-junction is further relieved byincreasing the distance between the region 37 and the source and drain32.

(3-3) Distance d

In the first embodiment, the MOS transistors TR4 to TR9 are larger thanthe MOS transistors TR1 to TR3 in the distance d. The distances d1 to d3are set at a constant value of 0.6 μm to 1.6 μm, and the distances d4 tod9 are larger than the distances d1 to d3 by the range of 0.1 μm to 0.6μm.

As shown in FIG. 28, the increase in threshold voltage can be reduced byincreasing the distance d when the back bias is changed from 0V to −28V.Accordingly, in the MOS transistors TR4 to TR9, a higher boostingvoltage can be transferred compared with the preceding-stage MOStransistors TR1 to TR3.

As shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, when the back bias ranges from 0V to −28V,the forward current can be increased by increasing the distance d, sothat a larger boosting current can be passed through compared with theMOS transistors TR1 to TR3. The distance d of FIGS. 29 and 30 is similarto that of the distance c of FIGS. 24 and 25, thus will not beexplained.

As shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, the junction breakdown voltage,particularly the surface breakdown voltage DSVsurf, can also beincreased by increasing the distance d. This is attributed to the factthat the electric field of the pn-junction is further relieved byincreasing the distance between the region 36 and the source and drain32.

(4) MOS TRANSISTORS TR8 AND TR9

In addition to the item (3), the MOS transistors TR8 and TR9 are largerthan the MOS transistors TR1 to TR7 in the distance a. As describedabove, the distances a4 to a7 are set at a constant value of 0.5 μm to1.2 μm, and the distances a8 and a9 are larger than the distances a4 toa9 by the range of 0.2 μm to 0.8 μm.

As described above, the inventor has found that the dependence of theforward current I(on) on the distance a, when an absolute value of theback bias is lower than 20V, is reversed to that, when the absolutevalue of the back bias is higher than 25V. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18,when the absolute value of the back bias is lower than 20V, the forwardcurrent I(on) is lowered with respect to the increase in distance a. Onthe contrary, when the absolute value of the back bias is 25V or higher,the forward current I(on) is increased with respect to the increase indistance a.

The later-stage MOS transistor TR is larger than the preceding-stage MOStransistor TR in the back bias, and particularly the back bias islargely increased in the final-stage MOS transistor TR9 and theimmediately preceding MOS transistor TR8. Accordingly, sometimes theabsolute value of the back bias becomes 25V or more in the MOStransistors TR8 and TR9. In such cases, the forward current can beincreased by increasing the distance a, which allows the drivingcapability to be improved in the MOS transistors TR8 and TR9. As aresult as shown in FIG. 20, the surface-junction breakdown voltageDSVsurf is also increased. Accordingly, even in the case of FIG. 13, thebreakdown voltages of the MOS transistors TR8 and TR9 can be maintained.This indicates that, in the case where the back bias has an absolutevalue of about 25V, an increase in threshold voltage is prevented tosufficiently keep a difference between the gate voltage and thethreshold voltage, thereby passing a larger amount of current.Accordingly, the boosting current can be further increased by adoptingthis structure.

The lengths of the source and drain 31 in the gate length direction,that is, the so-called LDD length, can be increased by increasing thedistance a. Therefore, in the MOS transistors TR8 and TR9, the electricfield from the drain to the gate can be relieved during the high-voltagebias, and the reliability can be improved in the MOS transistors TR8 andTR9.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 6, and 7, because the distance from the end portionof the diffusion layer 32 to the contact plugs CP4 and CP5 formed on thediffusion layer 32 is usually kept constant, the MOS transistors TR8 andTR9 become largest, the MOS transistors TR3 to TR7 become the secondlargest, and MOS transistors TR1 to TR3 become the smallest in thedistance from the contact plugs CP4 and CP5 to the gate electrode 34adjacent to the contact plugs CP4 and CP5. That is, it can also be saidthat the distance a is a “distance from the contact plugs CP4 and CP5 tothe gate electrode” equivalently.

(5) CONCLUSION

As described above, the MOS transistors TR1 to TR9 are formed in theabove-described layout dimensions, thereby obtaining a higher-efficiencyand excellent-reliability charge pump circuit. Because the forwardcurrent is improved in the MOS transistors TR2 to TR9, the occupied areacan be reduced compared with the conventional MOS transistor. In the MOStransistors TR4 to TR9, because the increase in threshold voltage isprevented when applying the back bias, a high voltage is obtained whilethe number of boosting stages is decreased.

More specifically, in the preceding-stage MOS transistors TR2 and TR3,the current driving capability can be maintained by decreasing thedistance a. This enables the problem (B) to be solved. At this point,although the surface breakdown voltage DSVsurf is lowered by decreasingthe distance a, the difference in distance a between the MOS transistorsTR2 and TR3 and the MOS transistors TR4 to TR8 can be restricted tosuppress the degree of deterioration to 5V or lower. The increase inthreshold voltage does not actually become a problem because the MOStransistors TR2 and TR3 are located in the preceding stage in the chargepump circuit,

In the later-stage MOS transistors TR4 to TR9, the breakdown voltage canbe increased by increasing the distances b, c, and d. This enables theproblem (B) to be solved. The current driving capability can beincreased by increasing the distances c and d, and the increase inthreshold voltage can be prevented by increasing the distances c and d.This enables the problems (A) and (C) to be solved.

In the MOS transistors TR8 and TR9, the distance a is increased. As aresult, the current driving capability can be increased, and thebreakdown voltage can also be increased. This also enables the problems(A) and (C) to be solved.

Obviously, it is not necessary for all the dimensions of the distances ato d and gate length g to be set as described above. Even if somedimensions are designed based on the above-described condition, thecharacteristic of the charge pump circuit can be effectively improvedcompared with the conventional technique.

Second Embodiment

A semiconductor device according to a second embodiment of the inventionwill be described. In the second embodiment, a three-phase clock is usedin the configuration according to the first embodiment. Only the pointsdifferent from the first embodiment will be described below.

FIG. 33 is a circuit diagram showing a charge pump circuit 6 of thesecond embodiment. In FIG. 33, respective broken lines indicate that theMOS transistors TR located therein have the same dimensions,respectively. As shown in FIG. 33, the charge pump circuit 6 of thesecond embodiment differs from the charge pump circuit 6 according tothe first embodiment in the following points. A clock φ3-1 is input intothe other electrode of the capacitor element Cj connected to the node Nj(j=1, 4, and 7). A clock φ3-2 is input into the other electrode of thecapacitor element C(j+1) connected to the node N(j+1). A clock φ3-3 isinput into the other electrode of the capacitor element C(j+2) connectedto the node N(j+2). The clocks φ3-1 to φ3-3 have waveforms whose phasesare shifted from one another. For example, the phases are shifted by 120degrees. In the clocks φ3-1 to φ3-3, an inclination (slew rate) at an upedge is smaller than an inclination at a down edge. That is, the risingspeed of the clock is slower than the falling speed. Otherconfigurations are similar to those according to the first embodiment.

The first embodiment can be applied to the charge pump circuit 6 of thesecond embodiment in which a three-phase clock is used, and an effectsimilar to that according to the first embodiment is obtained. The useof the three-phase clock shown in FIG. 34 can efficiently transfer thecharges even if the MOS transistor having a large reverse current isused as the rectifying element. As shown in FIG. 34, because the clockφ3-1 rises to Vcc at the timing the clock φ3-2 rises from GND to Vcc, acurrent is hardly passed in the reverse direction of the junction.Because the clock φ3-3 rapidly falls down to GND at the same timing, thecurrent is selectively and easily passed from the capacitor element C2toward the capacitor element C3. The reverse recovery time can be heldin a ramp portion where the slew rate on the voltage rising side isslow. Accordingly, the charge pump circuit in which the reverse currentflowing from the boosting potential side toward the low potential sideis small can be realized.

Third Embodiment

A semiconductor device according to a third embodiment of the inventionwill be described. In the third embodiment, a four-phase clock is usedin the configuration according to the first embodiment. Only the pointsdifferent from the first embodiment will be described below.

FIG. 35 is a circuit diagram showing a charge pump circuit 6 of thethird embodiment. In FIG. 35, respective broken lines indicate that theMOS transistors TR located therein have the same dimensions,respectively. As shown in FIG. 35, the charge pump circuit 6 of thethird embodiment differs from the charge pump circuit 6 according to thefirst embodiment in the following points. A clock φ4-1 is input into theother electrode of the capacitor element Cj connected to the node Nj(j=1 and 5). A clock φ4-2 is input into the other electrode of thecapacitor element C(j+1) connected to the node N(j+1). A clock φ4-3 isinput into the other electrode of the capacitor element C(j+2) connectedto the node N(j+2). A clock φ4-4 is input into the other electrode ofthe capacitor element C(j+3) connected to the node N(j+3). The clocksφ4-1 to φ4-4 have waveforms whose phases are shifted from one another.For example, the phases are shifted by 90 degrees. Unlike the secondembodiment, in the clocks φ4-1 to φ4-4, the inclination at the up edgemay be equal to the inclination at the down edge. Other configurationsare similar to those according to the first embodiment.

The first embodiment can be applied to the charge pump circuit 6 of thethird embodiment in which the four-phase clock is used, and the effectsimilar to that according to the first embodiment is obtained. Similarlyto the second embodiment, the use of the four-phase clock shown in FIG.36 can efficiently transfer the charges. As shown in FIG. 36, becausethe clock φ4-1 rises to Vcc at the timing the clock φ4-2 rises from GNDto Vcc, a current is hardly passed in the reverse direction of thejunction. Because the clock φ4-3 becomes GND at the same timing, thecurrent is selectively and easily passed from the capacitor element C2toward the capacitor element C3. Similarly to the second embodiment, thereverse recovery time can be secured in the ramp portion of the clockrising. Accordingly, a charge pump circuit in which the reverse currentflow from the boosting potential side toward the low potential side issmall can be realized.

Thus, the semiconductor devices of the first to third embodiments canrealize a charge pump circuit in which the boosting efficiency can beenhanced while enlargement of the circuit area is prevented. That is, inthe series-connected rectifying elements TR of the charge pump circuit6, the dimensions (distances a to d and width g) are systematically andorderly changed from the preceding state toward the later stage in theseries connection.

For example, assuming that x is the distance between the source or drain32 of the rectifying element TR and the gate electrode close to thesource or drain 32, the distance x is increased in the high-voltageapplication portion of the charge pump circuit 6. Therefore, the backbias effect can be reduced in the rectifying element TR to sufficientlysecure the current per unit width (gate width). On the other hand, thedistance x is decreased in the low-voltage application portion.Therefore, the current per unit width can be sufficiently secured in thelow-voltage application portion. Accordingly, a higher-efficiency chargepump circuit 5 can be realized while the circuit area is reduced.

In the embodiments, the MOS transistors TR2 and TR3 have the samedimensions, the MOS transistors TR4 to TR8 have the same dimensions, andthe MOS transistors TR8 and TR9 have the same dimensions. Theembodiments are not limited to the above dimensions, and the dimensionsof the MOS transistors TR can appropriately be selected so as to satisfythe necessary breakdown voltage or current driving force. That is, it isonly necessary to increase the distances a to d as the MOS transistor TR(that is, the MOS transistor on the later-stage side) has the largerabsolute value of the applied voltage. The same holds true for not onlythe charge pump circuit, which generates a positive voltage, but thecharge pump circuit which generates a negative voltage. That is,although a charge pump circuit which generates a positive voltage isdescribed in the embodiments, the embodiments can also be applied to acharge pump circuit which generates a negative voltage.

Accordingly, the distances a to d are not limited to the case shown inFIG. 11. For example, as shown in FIG. 37, all the distances a to d maybe changed for all the MOS transistors TR. Obviously, the distances a tod are not limited to the case shown in FIG. 37. Each of the dimensionsmay independently be set as long as the magnitude relation is maintainedfor the distances a to d and the width g in the connection order of theMOS transistors TR.

This point will be described with reference to FIG. 38. FIG. 38 is agraph showing a relationship between the position of the rectifyingelement (MOS transistor TR) in the charge pump circuit 6 and theabsolute value of the generation voltage, distances a to d, and gatelength g according to the position of each MOS transistor TR. In FIG.38, the rectifying element is expressed as a diode.

As shown in FIG. 38, the MOS transistors TRi to TR(i+h) areseries-connected (h is a natural number), and the MOS transistor TR(i+h)is located closer to the output node Nout side than the MOS transistorTRi. The MOS transistor TR may be disposed in the preceding stage of theMOS transistor TRi, the MOS transistor TR may be disposed in the laterstage of the MOS transistor TR(i+h), or the MOS transistor TR may bedisposed between the MOS transistor TRi and the MOS transistor TR(i+h).The generation voltage of the MOS transistor TR(i+h) is larger than thegeneration voltage of the preceding-stage MOS transistor TRi.

In the series-connected structure, the distances a to d of at least oneof the MOS transistor TR(i+h) are larger than the distances a to d ofthe MOS transistor Tri, respectively. The gate length g of at least oneof the MOS transistor TRi is larger than the gate length g of MOStransistor TR(i+h).

In the case where the MOS transistor TR is disposed between the MOStransistor TRi and the MOS transistor TR(i+h), the distances a to d ofthe MOS transistor TR are equal to or larger than the distances a to dof the MOS transistor TRi, and the distances a to d of the MOStransistor TR are equal to or smaller than the distances a to d of theMOS transistor TR(i+h). The gate length g of the MOS transistor TR isequal to or smaller than the gate length g of the MOS transistor TRi,and the gate length g of the MOS transistor TR is equal to or largerthan the gate length g of the MOS transistor TR(i+h). For example, theMOS transistor TR(i+h) is located in the final stage in the seriesconnection and the MOS transistor TRi is located in the initial stage inthe series connection.

In the embodiments, a p-type semiconductor substrate with surfaceacceptor concentration of 10¹⁴ cm⁻³ or higher to 5×10¹⁶ cm⁻³ or lower isused as the semiconductor substrate 10. In order to adjust the thresholdvoltage of the MOS transistor TR, boron or indium may be ion-implantedin a depth range up to 0.5 μm from the surface such that the acceptorconcentration has a peak of 10¹⁴ cm⁻³ or higher to 5×10¹⁶ cm⁻³ or lower.

The embodiments are not limited to the above. For example, in the methodfor the insulating film of the element isolation region, a method otherthan that for transforming silicon into the silicon oxide film orsilicon nitride film may be adopted. For example, a method for injectingoxygen ions into the deposited silicon or a method for oxidizing thedeposited silicon may be adopted. The inter-gate insulation film 15 andthe block insulation film 44 may be formed of TiO₂, HfO, Al₂O₃, HfAlO,HfSiO, tantalum oxide, strontium titanate or barium titanate, leadzirconate titanate, silicon oxynitride, silicon oxide, silicon nitride,or a stacked structure thereof.

In the embodiments, the p-type silicon substrate is used as thesemiconductor substrate 10. Alternatively, another silicon-containedsingle-crystal semiconductor substrate such as a SiGe mixed crystal anda SiGeC mixed crystal may be used instead of the p-type siliconsubstrate. An SiGe mixed crystal, SiGeC mixed crystal, silicide orpolyside such as TiSi, NiSi, CoSi, TaSi, WSi, and MoSi, and a metal suchas Ti, Al, Cu, TiN, and W may be used as the conductive layers 16 and 45functioning as a part of the gate electrode. The conductive layers 16and 45 may be formed by a polycrystal above material or a stackedstructure thereof. Amorphous silicon, amorphous SiGe, and amorphousSiGeC or stacked structure thereof may be used as the conductive layers14, 16, 43, and 45.

In the embodiment, the NAND type flash memory is described by way ofexample. Additionally, the embodiments can be applied to a 3Tr-NAND typeflash memory in which the number of memory cell transistors of the NANDcell is decreased to one in the NAND type flash memory, and a NOR typeflash memory. The embodiments may also be applied to a 2Tr type flashmemory in which the selection transistor ST1 on the drain side isremoved from the 3Tr-NAND type flash memory, and the embodiments maywidely be applied to nonvolatile semiconductor memories having stackedgate structures.

A NAND type memory cell in which the polycrystalline silicon film 14 isused as the floating gate is described in detail in the embodiments.Obviously, the embodiments can clearly be applied to a NAND type memoryhaving a so-called MONOS structure in which an insulating film is usedas the charge accumulation layer. In MONOS structure, the chargeaccumulation layer formed of the silicon nitride film, the siliconoxynitride film, the HfSiO film, the HfAlO film, the AlOx film, the HfOfilm, the TiO film, the TaO film, or the stacked structure thereof. Inthe case where the metal silicide layer is applied to the control gateelectrode 16, the metal silicide layer may be formed so as to contactthe insulation film 15.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects isnot limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shownand described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventiveconcept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

1. A semiconductor device comprising: element regions each of which issurrounded by an element isolation region, the element regions havingtransistor regions and capacitor regions; MOS transistors each of whichis formed on one of the transistor regions, each of the MOS transistorshaving a source, a drain, and a gate; capacitor elements each of whichis formed on one of the capacitor regions; a voltage generating circuitin which current paths of the MOS transistors are series-connected andeach of the capacitor elements is connected to one of the MOStransistors via either of the source and the drain thereof, the voltagegenerating circuit outputting a voltage from a first MOS transistor in afinal stage of the series connection, the voltage generating circuitinputting a voltage from a second MOS transistor in a previous stage inthe series connection; a first impurity-doped region which is formed onat least either of the source and the drain; a contact plug which isformed on the first impurity-doped region to connect the MOS transistorsor one of the MOS transistors and one of the capacitor elements, adistance between the gate and the first impurity-doped region for thefirst MOS transistor being larger than that for the second MOStransistor; and a memory cell which is capable of holding data, thevoltage output by the voltage generating circuit being applied to thememory cell.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein each of thecapacitor elements includes: a n-type well region which is formed in asurface region of the one of the capacitor regions and acts as one ofelectrodes; an insulation film which is formed on the well region; and agate which is formed on the insulation film and acts as the otherelectrode.
 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the one of thetransistor regions contains a p-type impurity which is doped with aconcentration of 10¹⁴ cm⁻³ to 5×10¹⁶ cm⁻³ in a region from a surface toa depth of 1 μm.
 4. The device according to claim 1, further comprisinga second impurity-doped region which is provided immediately below theelement isolation region and has a peak concentration of a p-typeimpurity of 10¹⁶ cm⁻³ to 10¹⁸ cm⁻³, wherein an interval between one ofthe element regions and the second impurity-doped region ranges from 0.2μm to 1.6 μm.
 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein a first clocksignal is input to one end of the current path of one of the MOStransistors in an even-numbered stage through one of the capacitorelements, and a second clock signal is input to one end of the currentpath of one of the MOS transistors in an odd-numbered stage through oneof the capacitor elements, the second clock signal differing from thefirst clock signal in phase.
 6. The device according to claim 1, whereineach of the MOS transistors includes: a first gate electrode layer whichis formed on the first one of the element regions with a first gateinsulation film interposed therebetween; and a second gate electrodelayer which is formed on the first gate electrode layer with a firstinter-gate insulation film interposed therebetween, the second gateelectrode layer being electrically connected to the first gate electrodelayer, and the memory cell includes: a charge accumulation layer whichis formed on a semiconductor substrate with a second gate insulationfilm interposed therebetween; and a control gate electrode which isformed on the charge accumulation layer with a second inter-gateinsulation film interposed therebetween, the control gate electrodebeing electrically isolated to the charge accumulation layer.
 7. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein an impurity concentration of thefirst impurity-doped region is higher than that of the source and thedrain.
 8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the firstimpurity-doped region is formed deeper than the source and the drain. 9.The device according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the gateand the first impurity-doped region in a latter stage of theseries-connection of the MOS transistors is equal to or greater thanthat in a former stage of the MOS transistor.
 10. A semiconductor devicecomprising: element regions each of which is surrounded by an elementisolation region, the element regions having transistor regions andcapacitor regions; MOS transistors each of which is formed on one of thetransistor regions, each of the MOS transistors having a source, adrain, and a gate; capacitor elements each of which is formed on one ofthe capacitor regions; a voltage generating circuit in which currentpaths of the MOS transistors are series-connected and each of thecapacitor elements is connected to one of the MOS transistors via eitherof the source and the drain thereof, the voltage generating circuitoutputting a voltage from a first MOS transistor in a final stage of theseries connection, the voltage generating circuit inputting a voltagefrom a second MOS transistor in a previous stage in the seriesconnection; a first impurity-doped region which is formed on at leasteither of the source and the drain; a contact plug which is formed onthe first impurity-doped region to connect the MOS transistors or one ofthe MOS transistors and one of the capacitor elements, a distancebetween the gate and the first impurity-doped region for the first MOStransistor being larger than that for the second MOS transistor, adistance in a gate width direction of the gate between the contact plugfor the first MOS transistor and the element isolation region beinglarger than that between the contact plug for the second MOS transistorand the element isolation region; and a memory cell which is capable ofholding data, the voltage output by the voltage generating circuit beingapplied to the memory cell.
 11. The device according to claim 10,wherein each of the capacitor elements includes: a n-type well regionwhich is formed in a surface region of the one of the capacitor regionsand acts as one of electrodes; an insulation film which is formed on thewell region; and a gate which is formed on the insulation film and actsas the other electrode.
 12. The device according to claim 10, whereinthe one of the transistor regions contains a p-type impurity which isdoped with a concentration of 10¹⁴ cm⁻³ to 5×10¹⁶ cm⁻³ in a region froma surface to a depth of 1 μm.
 13. The device according to claim 10,further comprising a second impurity-doped region which is providedimmediately below the element isolation region and has a peakconcentration of a p-type impurity of 10¹⁶ cm⁻³ to 10¹⁸ cm⁻³, wherein aninterval between one of the element regions and the secondimpurity-doped region ranges from 0.2 μm to 1.6 μm.
 14. The deviceaccording to claim 10, wherein a first clock signal is input to one endof the current path of one of the MOS transistors in an even-numberedstage through one of the capacitor elements, and a second clock signalis input to one end of the current path of one of the MOS transistors inan odd-numbered stage through one of the capacitor elements, the secondclock signal differing from the first clock signal in phase.
 15. Thedevice according to claim 10, wherein each of the MOS transistorsincludes: a first gate electrode layer which is formed on the one of thetransistor regions with a first gate insulation film interposedtherebetween; and a second gate electrode layer which is formed on thefirst gate electrode layer with a first inter-gate insulation filminterposed therebetween, the second gate electrode layer beingelectrically connected to the first gate electrode layer, and the memorycell includes: a charge accumulation layer which is formed on asemiconductor substrate with a second gate insulation film interposedtherebetween; and a control gate electrode which is formed on the chargeaccumulation layer with a second inter-gate insulation film interposedtherebetween, the control gate electrode being electrically isolated tothe charge accumulation layer.
 16. The device according to claim 10,wherein an impurity concentration of the first impurity-doped region ishigher than that of the source and the drain.
 17. The device accordingto claim 10, wherein the first impurity-doped region is formed deeperthan the source and the drain.
 18. The device according to claim 10,wherein the distance between the gate and the first impurity-dopedregion in a latter stage of the series-connection of the MOS transistorsis equal to or greater than that in a former stage of theseries-connection of the MOS transistors, the distance in a gate widthdirection between the contact plug and the element isolation region in alatter stage of the series-connection of the MOS transistors is equal toor greater than that in a former stage of the series-connection of theMOS transistors.
 19. A semiconductor device comprising: element regionseach of which is surrounded by an element isolation region, the elementregions having transistor regions and capacitor regions; MOS transistorseach of which is formed on one of the transistor regions, each of theMOS transistors having a source, a drain, and a gate; capacitor elementseach of which is formed on one of the capacitor regions; a voltagegenerating circuit in which current paths of the MOS transistors areseries-connected and each of the capacitor elements is connected to oneof the MOS transistors via either of the source and the drain thereof,the voltage generating circuit outputting a voltage from a first MOStransistor in a final stage of the series connection, the voltagegenerating circuit inputting a voltage from a second MOS transistor in aprevious stage in the series connection; a first impurity-doped regionwhich is formed on at least either of the source and the drain; a secondimpurity-doped region which is formed immediately below the elementisolation region and surrounds the element regions; and a contact plugwhich is formed on the first impurity-doped region to connect the MOStransistors or one of the MOS transistors and one of the capacitorelements, a distance between the gate and the first impurity-dopedregion for the first MOS transistor being larger than that for thesecond MOS transistor, a distance between one of the transistor regionsfor the first MOS transistor and the second impurity-doped region beinglarger than that between one of the transistor regions for the secondMOS transistor and the second impurity-doped region; and a memory cellwhich is capable of holding data, the voltage output by the voltagegenerating circuit being applied to the memory cell.
 20. The deviceaccording to claim 19, wherein each of the capacitor elements includes:a n-type well region which is formed in a surface region of the one ofthe capacitor regions and acts as one of electrodes; an insulation filmwhich is formed on the well region; and a gate which is formed on theinsulation film and acts as the other electrode.
 21. The deviceaccording to claim 19, wherein the one of the transistor regionscontains a p-type impurity which is doped with a concentration of 10¹⁴cm⁻³ to 5×10¹⁶ cm⁻³ in a region from a surface to a depth of 1 μm. 22.The device according to claim 19, wherein the second impurity-dopedregion contains p-type impurity, the p-type impurity has a peakconcentration of 10¹⁶ cm⁻³ to 10¹⁸ cm⁻³, and an interval between one ofthe element regions and the second impurity-doped region ranges from 0.2μm to 1.6 μm.
 23. The device according to claim 19, wherein a firstclock signal is input to one end of the current path of one of the MOStransistors in an even-numbered stage through one of the capacitorelements, and a second clock signal is input to one end of the currentpath of one of the MOS transistors in an odd-numbered stage through oneof the capacitor elements, the second clock signal differing from thefirst clock signal in phase.
 24. The device according to claim 19,wherein an impurity concentration of the first impurity-doped region ishigher than that of the source and the drain.
 25. The device accordingto claim 19, wherein the first impurity-doped region is formed deeperthan the source and the drain.
 26. The device according to claim 19,wherein the distance between the gate and the first impurity-dopedregion in a latter stage of the series-connection of the MOS transistorsis equal to or greater than that in a former stage of theseries-connection of the MOS transistors, the distance between the oneof the transistor regions and the second impurity-doped region in alatter stage of the series-connection of the MOS transistors is equal toor greater than that in a former stage of the series-connection of theMOS transistors.